In despair the young woman flung herself at his feet and begged for mercy, repenting bitterly of her curiosity. Bluebeard turned a deaf ear to all her entreaties and was not moved in the least by her piteous beauty. "Hear me, madam. You must die at, once," he said. "But give me a little time to make my peace with God," she said. "I must have time to say my prayers." "I will give you a quarter of an hour," answered Bluebeard, "but not a minute more." He turned away, and she sent for her sister, who came quickly at her summons. "Sister Ann," she said excitedly, "go up to the top of the tower and see if my brothers are coming. They promised to come and see me to-day. If they are on the road make signs to them to hurry as fast as they can. I am in awful despair." [Illustration: SISTER ANN WATCHING FROM THE TOWER] Without waiting for an explanation the sister went to the top of the tower and began her watch. She was scarcely seated when her sister called up, "Sister Annie, do you see any one coming?" Annie answered, "I see nothing but the sun on the golden dust and the grass which grows green." In the meantime, Bluebeard, who had armed himself with a sharp, curved scimitar, stood at the foot of the stairs waiting for his wife to come down. "Annie, sister Annie, do you see any one coming down the road?" cried the wife again. "No, I see nothing but the golden dust." Then Bluebeard called out, "Come down quickly now, or I will come up to you." "One minute more," replied his wife; and then she called softly, "Annie, sister Annie, do you see any one coming?" "I think I see a cloud of dust a little to the left." "Do you think it is my brothers?" said the wife. "Alas, no, dear sister, it is only a shepherd boy with his sheep." "Will you come down now, madam, or shall I fetch you?" Bluebeard bawled out. "I am coming,--indeed I will come in just a minute." Then she called out for the last time, "Annie, sister Annie, do you see any one coming?" "I see," replied her sister, "two horsemen coming, but they are still a great way off." "Thank God," cried the wife, "it is my brothers. Urge them to make haste." Annie replied, "I am beckoning to them. They have seen my signals. They are galloping towards us." Now Bluebeard called out so loudly for his wife to come down that his voice shook the whole house. His lady, not daring to keep him waiting any longer, hurried down the stairs, her hair streaming about her shoulders and her face bathed in tears. She threw herself on the floor at his feet and begged for mercy. "There is no use in your pleading," said Bluebeard; "you must certainly die." Then, seizing her by the hair with his left hand, he raised his scimitar, preparing to strike off her head. The poor woman turned her eyes upon him and begged for a single moment to collect her thoughts. "No," he said; "not a moment more. Commend yourself to God."